Come in, I made you a cup of coffee. Sit with me.
I was thinking today about how now you know about me, and what makes me feel alive.
I need to know that about you too...
Just as the artist dreams colors alive onto his canvas
Or as the singer mesmerizes you with her song,
And the artisan weaves his magical tapestry,
there are those of us who explore the depths of our emotions as we cook.
Did you see what I said? I am not saying that you have to be a gourmet chef, that your food has to be amazing every time or that you won't mess up sometimes. I'm saying that if you choose the kitchen as your canvas, your cooking will become artful, not only for you who is creating it but also the person who is receiving it.
The form of art that you choose, has actually chosen you. Think about it.
Pour your heart into that which you are passionate about. And if you haven't yet found what you feel this way towards, you will find a sense of peace and emotional release once you do. It will come to feel like you can't remember what life was like before you had that sense of spiritual freedom.
I want you to know that the potency of your experience will not come from doing these things solely for others. Think of it as a self-expression of the love that you have for yourself, and the gifts that were chosen especially for you.
This is of course amplified, when you share your art with others. It's a great parallel altogether. I've always believed that you can't give someone happiness, nor can it be donned onto you. What you can do together is share happiness, and the experience.
I think this sometimes when I see hairdressers or cosmetologists work. These men and women are truly gifted, and what they do is in fact a form of art. Still, as I observe them, I find that the transformation doesn't just take place for the customer getting a haircut or a makeover. No. The person creating the art is equally transformed into a higher realm.
I love watching my cousin, Aisa take pictures. When I look at her photos, I see art. She has a way of capturing a moment in a way that makes it matter.
She captures moments that most of us would just walk past. When I see her photos, I feel a part of me inside is transformed; awakened. And I have to believe that her photos close a spiritual circle inside of her too.
The artist and the observer share a symbiotic relationship, if you consider it all. I share my experiences and my work, with you as a way of also closing my own circle.
Paintings, prose or abstract thought that would normally be suspended in an abyss of the ordinary or unaccounted for, become art. Just as a sculptor carves his legacy out of lifeless matter, a chef carves his masterpiece out of ordinary ingredients.
An artist makes things matter.
Although I hope that most or all of you are inspired to share your culture with others, and cook delicious foods then tell me about your experiences, what I want most, Reader, is for you to try something new. That in some way, this dialogue between us, my words, your thoughts; inspire you in some way to find your own canvas, whatever that may be.
I've learned difficult lessons in life. One of these has been that nothing remains idle. If we don't continue to grow and to take risks, life will force cataclysmic changes somehow. I don't like surprises, so I find that which I'm afraid of, pinch my nose and then dive in. Success and happiness are seldom achieved without the element of risk.
My inspiration is my children, and my family. Find your inspiration, and a solid support network.
Supportive people are rooting for you, rejoice in your accomplishments but also are honest with you in a constructive manner. And when we receive honesty, it can often be a hard pill to swallow. We only need to consider the source. If it comes from genuine love and good intent, then it's worth at least considering.
Another lesson that has led me on the path to taking risks, and to success has been FAILURE. That's right! It was during the times that I've lost so much, that I was forced to look inside of me and ask myself what I truly wanted.
Truthfully, it's my nature to first figure out what I don't want first, and then pursue what I resolve on. So now I've come to think that I only fail if I fail to see and accept the lesson.
Now, I choose to evolve.
This is what cooking, and writing do for my soul. In part I feel this way because it feels like a way to stay connected to my grandmother that I miss so dearly, to show my mother that what they've taught me hasn't been lost on me, or my daughter.
The other aspect of this is the creative freedom that one feels when you have an opportunity to express your innermost self. It thrills me to engage all five, or six, senses. I enjoy hearing the pan sizzle, feeling the form of the vegetables in my hands as I cook with them, the lure of the delicious aroma, to see the vibrant colors forming an edible tapestry that explodes with the flavors of my heritage. When that happens, I feel connected to something much greater than myself.
To some, cooking is something they do because they have to, or for sustenance. And that is okay too. For me, and maybe for you too, it's my canvas.
I feel blessed to have you share this with me, and for you I wish the same. What's your canvas?
By the way, I have a request for an old-school Puerto Rican specialty that I was saving for you around Christmas time. I'm working on it for tomorrow instead. I hope that you enjoy it. Stay tuned...
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